Shloka 38
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
स पाण्डवानां प्रवरै: सर्वतः समभिद्रुत: । उदीरयन ब्राह्ममस्त्रं शरैरापू्रयद् दिश:
sa pāṇḍavānāṁ pravaraiḥ sarvataḥ samabhidrutaḥ | udīrayan brāhmam astraṁ śarair āpūrayad diśaḥ ||
サンジャヤは言った。パーンダヴァ方の第一級の勇士たちに四方から攻め立てられると、カルナは梵天の武器、ブラフマーストラを発動し、矢の嵐によって諸方を満たし、覆い隠した。この場面は、戦いが極限に達したとき、武人が手持ちの最高の武器へと頼らざるを得ないことを示す—それは武威を増幅させると同時に、暴力の道徳的重みをも増大させるのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of warfare: when surrounded and pressured, a warrior may resort to supreme force. Such power displays valor, yet it also raises the question of restraint—how far one should escalate violence even when acting within a warrior’s duty.
Karna is attacked from all sides by leading Pāṇḍava fighters. In response, he invokes the Brāhmāstra and releases a dense barrage of arrows that seems to cover the quarters, pushing back the encirclement through overwhelming force.